Jumia Travel, Africa’s leading online travel agency, has organized the 2nd edition of the Ghana Travel Awards to recognize the outstanding performance and contributions of organizations in the tourism and hospitality sector last year.
Aqua Safari Resort won the best Jumia Travel Booking Award 2017, – Bays Lodge & Apartment took home the Travelers’ Choice Award 2017, The Royal Senchi Resort was adjudged Best Leisure Hotel in Ghana 2017, the Best Business Hotel in Ghana 2017 award went to Labadi Beach Hotel, Customer’s Favorite Hotel in Ghana 2017 award went to Accra City Hotel, Emirates won the Customer’s Favorite Airline Company in Ghana 2017 and the Best Destination Website in Ghana 2017 also went to MyJoyOnline.com.
The award winners which included hoteliers, airlines and travel websites were given a certificate and plague as a form of recognition and appreciation for their efforts in the sector.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Tourist Development Company (GTDC), Mr. Kwadwo Odame Antwi said it is very encouraging that Jumia, realizing that government alone cannot drive this agenda has actually taken steps to contribute to the sector is really a great achievement.
He indicated that it is a good step for the country as private stakeholders such as Jumia Travel go the extra mile to appreciate the efforts of key players in the Tourism and Hospitality industry.
“We as authorities always welcome such innovative actions and our doors are always open for productive collaborations with private entities in order to grow and develop Ghana’s tourism and hospitality,” Mr. Antwi stated.
The Country Manager of Jumia Travel Ghana, Bennet Otoo said the awards is aimed at celebrating hoteliers, airlines and travel websites for their contribution to the success of the travel, hospitality and tourism industries in 2017, as well as to encourage provision of improved quality services to Ghanaians.
He noted that tourism remains one of Ghana’s leading foreign exchange earners adding that travel and hospitality accounts for a great portion of tourism revenues which makes hotels, airlines and all other stakeholders very important.
Mr Bennet indicated that acknowledging their efforts to maintain high levels of professionalism and providing great customer service is just one of the many ways they can encourage and incentivize them.
“For the second time, we have awarded excellent service and commitment to develop our industries. To all winners, a very big congratulations for such achievements. We can only work harder in the coming years, to ensure that our industry which has a great potential develops abundantly,’’ the Country Manager posited.
An award winner, Mr. Yaw Mamphey, the Head of Marketing & Events at Accra City Hotel, after receiving the Customer’s favourite hotel award said they are indeed very much proud and honored to win such a prestigious award.
He added that winning such an award amid some very prominent hotel nominees goes a long way to enhance their status as a leading player in Ghana’s hospitality industry.
“Our goal and desire is to provide excellent customer service with top notch facilities at our hotel to better satisfy the needs of both domestic and international travelers. We really appreciate Jumia Travel’s contribution to tourism and hospitality development in Ghana and Africa as a whole. Our industry can only get better with such incentives from key stakeholders,” Mr. Yaw Mamphey noted.
The event also marked the launch of a “Think Tank”, an African Hospitality Club by Jumia Travel, AccorHotels and other local tourism players, whose main objective is to bring together ideas towards improving African tourism.
This follows the successful launch of the 2017 African Hospitality Report in collaboration with French multinational hotel group, Accor Hotels, and a series of other country-based reports.
The inaugural awards held in 2016 ascertained Jumia Travel’s commitment to keep bettering the travel experience in Africa, positioning the awards ceremony as a key event in the travel and tourism sector in each country.
This year, they were simultaneously held in 7 African cities including Algiers, Dakar, Abidjan, Accra, Douala, Dar Es Salaam, and Kampala. Kenya and Nigeria will hold the ceremony on 1st February 2018.
Source: modernghana.com
